This week on The Movie Gourmet – a new review of the neo-noir Reptile and two remembrances.
REMEMBRANCES
Piper Laurie was, in her middle age, recognized as a great actress of stage and screen, thrice nominated for Oscars. She was unforgettable as the religious fanatic mom in Carrie. What I didn’t know until recently was that she was a starlet in the Hollywood Studio era, co-starring at age 20 with Rock Hudson, Tyrone Power and Tony Curtis (three times); Laurie disdained those roles as empty adornments, and quit Hollywood in search of better material. Good for her.
Burt Young was one of those stellar character actors who make each supporting turn memorable. I first noticed Young when he elevated such a role in Chinatown. Of course, his signature (and Oscar-nominated)role was as Paulie in Rocky, alternatively devoted, blustery and vulnerable.
CURRENT MOVIES
- Fremont: self-discovery and a fortune cookie. Amazon, Vudu.
- Flora and Son: a bad mom turns it around. In theaters and AppleTV.
- Reptile: a neo-noir showcase for Benicio del Toro. Netflix.
- Oppenheimer: creator of a monster controlled by others. In theaters.
- Past Lives: a profound and refreshing romance. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- The League: untold stories. Amazon.
- No Hard Feelings: an amusement with Jennifer Lawrence. Amazon, Vudu YouTube.
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed: leading man in the closet. HBO Max.
WATCH AT HOME
The most eclectic watch-at-home recommendations you’ll find ANYWHERE:
- I’m Fine (Thank You for Asking): a desperate dash for dignity. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- Undefeated: an Oscar winner you haven’t seen. Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Kimi: an adequate REAR WINDOWS ends as a thrilling WAIT UNTIL DARK. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Lune: funny, searing, and richly authentic. Amazon.
- Summertime: no longer invisible and unheard, giving voice through verse. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- Phoenix: riveting psychodrama, wowzer ending. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- Making Montgomery Clift: exploding the myths. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube.
- Our Kind of Traitor: Skarsgård steals this robust thriller. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
- ’71: keeping the thrill in thriller. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, redbox.
ON TV
On October 25, Turner Classic Movies is screening the 1973 cult sci-fi classic Soylent Green, which was utterly under appreciated until the past decade or so. Set in a dystopian future (like those so popular in today’s sci-fi), humans have pretty much destroyed the environment and most are impoverished, even homeless. The dietary staple is a green pellet provided by a mega-corporation. Charlton Heston is surprisingly effective as a jaded and solitary cop, whose investigation leads him to a horrifying discovery. The cast is very good, including Edward G. Robinson in his final performance. Soylent Green was directed by the versatile Richard Fleischer, 21 years after The Narrow Margin.